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AND
(Copyright, 1917, by The Record and Guide Co.)
NEW YORK, MARCH 17, 1917
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF BUILDINGS
Marked Increase Last Year as Compared With 1915
—Zoning Resolution One of the Influencing Factors
By HON. ALFRED LUDWIG, Superintendent of Buildings, Manhattan
PART TWO.
THE budget for 1916 cut the appropri¬
ation for executive service in the
Bureau of Buildings $34,080, which
necessitated a reduction of fifteen clerks,
four stenographers, two copyists and five
messengers in the clerical force. The
result iias been that while the reducedl
force has been able to keep the work up
to date there is danger of giving rather
poorer service to the public, owing to
the fact that there is no reserve force
available for emergencies. In case of
sickness on the part of any employee, or
during the vacation period, the work
falls rapidly behind or can be kept up
only by overtime on the part of those
on duty. This is not a healthy state of
affairs and is anything but beneficial to
efficiency.
Owing to a reduction in the ste-
tiographic force, it was found advisable
to organize a central stenographic di¬
vision, consistin? of a chief stenographer,
four stenograohers and three copyists.
Formerlv each division of the Bureau
had assigned to it either a stenographer
or a copvist, who handled only the work
of that division; under the present sys¬
tem, which went into effect on October
15. 1916. all routine work goes to the
central division, regardless of where it
emanates.
The many new taws and ordinances
relating to buildine; construction, which
became effective during the year, have
very materiallv increased the work of
the Bureau. The Lockwood-Ellenhoaren
bill, which went into full effect on Octo¬
ber 1. 1916. placed within the iurisdiction
of the Superintendent of Buildinqrs the
enforcement of the Labor Law as to con¬
struction and extended his jurisdiction
generally in matters relating to build¬
ines. In addition, orders of the Labor
Department aeainst buildings, which
have been turned over to the Fire De¬
partment, must now be investin-ated and
insnected by the Bureau of Buildines.
which means increased clerical work for
it.
Several recent collapses of structures
in this city have directed attention very
forcibly to the question of proper super¬
vision of buildings during the course of
construction and alteration. The Bureau
of Buildings, as at present organized, is
in no position to give proper and efficient
inspection, as the force of inspectors
available is wholly inadequate for the
purpose. A few figures will suffice to
demonstrate this point; in an average
month like November, the twenty-six in¬
spectors assiened to new construction
and alterations were carrying applica¬
tions for 372 new buildines and 1..S40 al¬
terations, or a total of 1.912 applications,
an average of about 72 for each inspec¬
tor. Of these, about 39 were in progress
and required the attention of the inspec¬
tor; the remaining 33. while inactive,
were liable to start up any day. and con¬
sequently necessitated frequent visits on
the part of the inspector.
Inspectors are required to report for
dutv at the offices of the Bureau of
Build'nes at 8.30 a. m., and as soon as
oossible thereafter thev are expected to
leave for their districts. Usually, at
least an hour is required for work in the_
office, assienment of applications, writing
reports, etc., and 10 a. m. may be consid¬
ered as the average time of arrival of the
inspectors in their districts. Building
operations cease at 5 p. m., and the in¬
spectors' tour of duty ends at the same
time; deducting one hour for lunch, six
hours remain as the actual time an in¬
spector spends in the field, inspecting
buildine construction and alteration. ThTs
time divided among thirty-nine active
plans and the issuance of the permit the
architect's connection with the operation
practically ceases and consequently the
only inspection the building receives
during its actual erection is that given
by the city. A great improvement in
conditions would undoubtedly follow if
a law or ordinance were passed, holding
the applicant, whose name is signed to
the application and to whom the permit,
upon approval, is issued responsible for
Elevator Accidents for 1916.
Jan. Feb. Mar. April May Jun. Jly. Aug.
No. of accidents reported.. 15904 456
Passenger elevators:
Persons killed............0 1 3 2 2 4 1 3
Persons Injured...........1 2 2 3 2 0 1 1
Frelaht elevators:
Persons killed.............0 12 0 0 0 10
Persons injured...........0 0 4 1 0 0 2 0
Sidewalk elevators:
Persons killed.............01010 001
Persons Injured...........0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Totals :
Persons killed.............0 3 5 3 2 4 2 4
Persons Injured...........1 2 6 6 2 0 3 2
Accidents due to defects
In ropes:
Persons killed.............00000 000
Persons Inlured...........0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Defects In safety devices :
Persons killed.............0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Persons Iniured...........0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Defects In machinery:
Persons killed.............0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Persons injured...........1 0 3 1 1 0 0 1
Carelessness of passen¬
gers :
Persons killed.............0 12 10 3 13
Persons Injured...........0 0 12 0 0 2 0
Carelessness of operators:
Persons killed.............0 112 1 0 0 1
Persons Inlurpd...........0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0
C^iuse unknown :
Persons killed ............ 01100 010
Persons Inlured...........0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Onen dnnr In shaft!
Persons killed.............0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0
Persons inlured...........0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Onen rpte on car:
Persons killed............. 0000 0 000
Persons Inlured...........0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sept.
5
Oct.
11
Nov.
10
Dec.
4
Total
73
1
4
3
3
0
5
1
1
21
25
1
2
2
1
3
1
0
0
10
11
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
8
e
3
7
6
S
5
7
2
2
30
42
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
10
0
1
1
2
1
6
1
1
14
14
0
0
3
2
0
1
1
0
10
7
1
0
1
1
3
0
0
0
8
3
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
operations woulii allow onlv a little oyer
nine minutes per iob per day. including
time eoine from job to iob. The prac¬
tice, however, is to visit an operation
two or three t''mes a week on an averaee;
operat'ons wh>Vh aopear to need particu¬
lar attention beine visited more frenuent-
ly than those seeminely requirine less.
A laree percentaee of the building
operations in this Boroiieh are of such
maenifnde that if properly insnecfed bv
tlie Bureau would reouire a laree part of
the time of an inspector dailv. Ade-
ouate inspection of buildines under con¬
struction or alteration, if done by the
city, would renuire the services of at
least l.'iO additional inspectors in the
Boroueh of Manhattan alone. Any such
increase in the force of inspectors is out
of the nuestion. as no appropriation to
cover the cost could possiblv be ob¬
tained, nor does it seem either proper
or wise that the citv should assume this
extra burden. Buildine operations are
in genera! undertaken bv special inter¬
ests, and it would seem that a laree part
of the cost of the inspection should be
bene by these interests.
Manv owners and builders contemplat-
ine erectine buildings eneaee the ser¬
vices of an architect merely to draw up
plans and file the necessarv applications
with the Bureau of Buildines for the pur¬
pose of securing a permit to erect the
building. Upon the approval of th§
the proper execution of the work from
start to finish.
It has also been suggested that both
arrhitprts and builders be licensed and
reninVed to reeister with the Bureau of
Buildines. and while tbis sueeestion. if
enacted into law would undoubtedtv im¬
prove the situation and lead to better
cnnstruction. it would nevertheless be in
addition a"d sunnlpmenfrv to tlip strict
resr>nn = iKilitv of the applicant fiHne the
application and plans, as hereinbefore
mentioned. It is very necessarv and es¬
sential that steps be taken without de-
lav to remedv conditions or else some
serious collapse or catastrophe, in con-
neetion with building construction, is
liable to happen, accompanied bv a loss
of life ereater than anv recorded as vet.
Article 27 of the Revised Building
Cne\e. which went into effect March 1_4,
1916. has vastiv increased the work in
connection with the inspection and
supervision of elevators in this Borough;
formerly periodic inspections for passen¬
ger elevators onlv were required, but
under the revised law not only must
passeneer elevators be inspected at least
once in everv three months, but freieht
elevators includine sidewalk elevators
and amusement devices at least twice
each vear; in addition, a docket contam-
ine complete data for each passeneer
elevator with its serial numher. which is
pow required by law must b? kept. When